Title

Environmental Contaminants and their Impacts on Wild Atlantic Salmon in Relations Mi’gmaq Communities

Fiscal Year

2009-2010

Community/Region

Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (Listuguj), Quebec

Principal Investigator

Victoria Metallic and Tasha Metallic

Community Project Lead

N/A

Project Members

Mark Sark, Craig Paul, Colleen. LaBillois, Janine Metallic, Carley Wysote and John Murven Vicaire

Project Summary

Members of the Mi’gmaq communities (Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation, and Pabineau First Nation) have expressed their concerns about the presence of contaminants in locally harvested wild Atlantic salmon, which represents a significant food source for the Mi’gmaq people.

Based on a previous study, it was discovered that dioxins and furans were detectable in Atlantic salmon. The objective of the current study was to confirm and validate those previous findings by collecting samples of salmon fillets from the Restigouche River and analysing them for dioxins and furans. In addition, questionnaires were provided to community members to determine their salmon consumption rates and obtain other basic health information. Elders from Listuguj were also interviewed on video to learn about the relationship they have with not only with salmon, but the environment as a whole.

The results of this study confirmed that dioxins and furans were found in Atlantic salmon. However, the presence of such contaminants still did not seem to deter the Mi’gmaq people from eating salmon, in part, because of its nutritional value, its cultural benefits, and the strong sense of community it fosters, which outweigh possible risks.